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Natural Heroes

Natural Heroes

Natural Heroes focuses on people making a positive difference for the environment and enhancing the world around us. Each episode of Natural Heroes is created by different independent filmmakers, making each episode quite unique. These are diverse, inspiring stories featured within an eclectic program unlike any other.

News & Announcements

Increasingly, many of the educational programs IPTV provides are available online. Below is a list of programs and Web sites where video may be available outside of iptv.org.
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All Episodes

Protecting New Orleans: Dr. John Day predicted in July 2005 that the New Orleans levees would break any minute. This well-known expert on Mississippi delta restoration is researching those wetlands, and proposing the most effective ways to rebuild. Caretaker at the Park: An urban park caretaker shows what a difference keeping a big city park clean can make for a community. Wild Horse Spirit: Brief history and a current update exposing a new bill which gutted the protection that wild horses were granted in 1971.The "Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act" was unanimously passed by Congress as a result of American citizens sending more letters to Congress over the threats to these wild animals than over any other domestic issue in U.S. History. Narrated by Viggo Mortensen. [26 minutes]

Earth + Air + Fire + Water = Life. In a time when people are thirsty for honesty, inspiration, meaning, and global change, renowned scientist and visionary Dr. David Suzuki, delivers the most important message of his career: what it means to be fully human in our interconnected universe. The film's stunning motion graphics weave a tapestry that transforms Dr. Suzuki's wisdom into a complete sensory experience, literally creating new worlds and new ways of seeing. Features music of Leonard Cohen. [27 minutes]

More than 20 years after Union Carbide's industrial disaster in Bhopal (India), people still have to fight for the cleaning of contaminated zones, the supply of drinkable water, and medical research. Justice for Bhopal is a glimpse into the courage and tenacity of exceptional citizens of the world. [27 minutes]

Winnemem War Dance: A proposal to raise the height of Shasta Dam near Redding, CA, threatens to flood Winnemem Wintu sacred sites on the McCloud River. The Winnemem responded with a four-day war dance to unite the people spiritually in their struggle for sovereignty and religious freedom, and their efforts to protect the water, salmon, and ceremonial sites. Features Julia Butterfly Hill. Damming the Angry River: Chinese environmentalists fight the seemingly inevitable fate of the beautiful Nu River in China. Building One House: Redfeather Development Group helps Native American tribal members build each other's straw bale homes on their reservations: one small grassroots organization making a big difference. Narrated by Robert Redford, music by Pearl Jam. [27 minutes]

Scientists predict the giant Pacific leatherback sea turtle, which has survived unchanged for over 100 million years, could vanish in the next 5 to 30 years if threats from wasteful industrial fishing are not curtailed. [27 minutes]

People of Amazonian Ecuador have saved 82 square miles of rainforest by building an eco-tourism lodge. Reacting to the rampant deforestation in the region, these people realized the innate value of their intact lands and the importance of preserving their traditions and way of life. [27 minutes]

China Bear Rescue: Animals Asia Foundation signed an agreement with the Chinese government to free moon bears from the worst bear bile farms in China, where their bile is extracted for use in traditional medicine. Many bears now live in peace in the Animals Asia sanctuary after rescue and recovery. Love of Sloth: A sloth rescue center in Costa Rica teaches children to appreciate sloths and their forest ecosystem. As the species is pushed ever closer to the brink of extinction, this knowledge is critical. [27 minutes]

Richard Nelson has spent years with the Alaskan Eskimo, learning how to subsist on the Arctic ice. Nelson will leave you more curious about our Earth and motivated to find your own way to participate in preserving America's wild places. [27 minutes]

Excerpts from "Farming the Seas" and "Empty Oceans, Empty Nets'"
A documentary that looks at the state of our seas and the issues of disappearing fish. Scientists estimate that 70% of the world's commercially fished species have been fished to, or beyond, the brink at which their populations can sustain themselves. It will help in understanding what's happening and why, and what you can do to stop the drastic decline in fish populations. [27 minutes]

When humpback whales migrating between Alaska and Hawaii become entangled in marine debris, a small network of brave volunteer rescuers risk their lives to save them. Packed with action, beauty and compassion, In the Wake of Giants puts you in the rescue boats with the experts as they free the struggling whales. [26 minutes]

An inspiring film about Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW). Starting as a fourth grade class project and one child's question, "What can we do to save an endangered species?" STRAW evolved into a remarkable program that has restored over 20 miles of habitat, galvanized the local community, and led to significant educational innovation, illustrating the power of a child's curiosity and a teacher who honored it. [26 minutes]

New Shepherds of the Farm is a beautiful, heartfelt film that takes a realistic look at how animal farming is done today and considers the cost to the animals and the planet. Meet "cattle whisperer" Temple Grandin and the intrepid individuals who are transforming the North American animal farm. Temple, who is autistic, and highly sensitive to cattle has transformed the entire industry into a more humane place for animals. Compassionate people working with pigs, cows and chickens share a philosophy of a world without unnecessary cruelty to animals. [26 minutes]

Meet six extraordinary young people who were recognized in 2009 for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy. The Brower Youth Awards honor founder and legendary environmental activist, David R. Brower, and call forth a new generation of leaders. He urged environmentalists to heed the words of the German poet Goethe, "Anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." [26 minutes]

Since the late 1960's, Puerto Rico's small fishing villages have undergone expansive coastal development, driven by tourism and the growing demand for beachfront property. The Edge of the Sea follows a third generation fisherman in his battle against a developer planning to build a mega condo project on one of Rincon's most popular public beaches. This film explores both sides of the privatization of public areas, and the sensitive social and environmental consequences of excessive coastal development. [26 minutes]

Three short animated documentaries change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. The stories of BOTTLED WATER, COSMETICS and ELECTRONICS expose the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. This is a fast-paced, fact-filled look that will teach you something, make you laugh, and have you thinking twice about "more stuff." [26 minutes]

Watershed Revolution asks the question "What is a Watershed?" The answer is explored through interviews with concerned citizens working to protect and preserve southern California's Ventura River watershed while stunning high definition cinematography highlights the beauty of the river. It emphasizes the need for open space and floodplain protection, sustainable agriculture, and community awareness of our most precious resource: water. [26 minutes]

A magical glimpse into a world where one 21st century family lives with the land in its seasons. In a corner of New Brunswick, Canada, the craft of scything is practiced as meditation in action. This poetic film is a study in how we might heal our relationship with planet Earth. [26 minutes]